Question 1

tested positive for lyme disease igm but my western blot test came back negtive?

Accepted Answer

Then it's not Lyme: Lyme disease can be tricky -and you want to make sure you see someone like an Infectious Diseases doctor who knows how to treat it. The diagnosis is actually based on clinical findings, and the lab testing is generally 'supportive'. Since you're Western blot is negative, then it's very unlikely you have Lyme. There are other diseases that could cause 'Lyme-like' symptoms -and good to get evaluated

Question 2

what is difference between igm and igg for western blot for lyme. positive for igm but not igg, what does that mean? tks

Accepted Answer

Recent infection: Hi. IgM is present only with recent infection. After IgM levels fall away, IgG takes over for ongoing and recurrent exposure to antigen. (The antibodies in this picture are IgG's). I'm glad your doc was on the ball. She/he may have saved you a world of hurt by making the diagnosis promptly. Good luck!

Question 3

why would my lyme disease western blot test show 4 igg bands as reactive? could this mean i have the disease? none of the igm bands were reactive.

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: IgM antibody means recent infection.
IgG antibody usually means remote infection. You may not have the disease, just that you may have been infected at one time.

Question 4

western blot igm bands 23 and 41 were positive but second testing weeks later showed completely negative western blot. false positive?

Accepted Answer

Not enough data LYME: This is not enough data to diagnose  Lyme.It can occur in other conditions and these tests  can change.

Question 5

2 years ago i had lyme ab screen mildly elevevated but western blot all non reactive. now im testing pos for igm 23 and igm 41. what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Interpret clinically: Lyme is known to be 'tricky'. The first set of tests I would ignore, since the Western blot was totally negative. In the second case, this could indicate an acute exposure since you've got 2 out of 3 IgM bands. You definitely need to talk to the doctor about these- since the lab work needs to be interpreted in the right clinical context. Sometimes lab tests come up as 'false positive'. See ID doc.

Question 6

do i have lyme dx? tested negative for igm and positive for igg. western blot serum-1 not indicated, iggcdc neg, igmcdc, neg, igmalt, neg, iggalt pos igg: 66, 39, 31, 23 igm: no bands present. being treated for exposure to lyme dx?

Accepted Answer

: Probably not.

Determination of Lyme Disease is based primarily on clinical symptoms and on physical findings.  Serologic findings are, at best, supportive, NOT diagnostic.  For whatever its worth (not much) these tests suggest a remote episode of Lyme Disease (years or decades ago), not currently active and not needing treatment now

Question 7

lyme antibody positive and western blot negative. where can i find a complete list of other id's associated with a positive igm/igm antibody screen?!

Accepted Answer

Probably have Lyme!: I don't know where to find such a list as I am not sure the causes of a false positive are known, but, esp. If the western blot did not include the 34 ; 39 bands i would not rely upon it; please do the igenex western blot, which is much more sensitive ; specific for lyme. Even if that is negative 20-30% with lyme can have a negative WB test. Other tests may be indicated. See http://bit.Ly/1aaqjgc.

Question 8

my dr. did western blot for lyme. both igm and igg came back positive. have enough bands to diagnose according to the cdc. no elisa. is it ok?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Western blot is usually more specific than ELISA.  Are you being treated?

Question 9

i have a "present abnormal" western blot serum test for p41, both igg and igm.  also, low wbc (3.0).  does this indicate an active infection?

Accepted Answer

Need for different: test. You should get tested for HIV nucleic acid. If that is negative, it would rule out HIV infection. Low WBC may be a separate issue and you should consult your doctor for that.

Question 10

is "lyme ab panel w.blot" the same test as "lyme ab igg & igm"?

Accepted Answer

No: The blot is more accurate.

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Doctor answers about:

What does it mean if igm and western blot test were positive

A member asked:

Tested positive for lyme disease igm but my western blot test came back negtive?

A member asked:

What is difference between igm and igg for western blot for lyme. positive for igm but not igg, what does that mean? tks

A member asked:

Why would my lyme disease western blot test show 4 igg bands as reactive? could this mean i have the disease? none of the igm bands were reactive.

A member asked:

Western blot igm bands 23 and 41 were positive but second testing weeks later showed completely negative western blot. false positive?

A member asked:

2 years ago i had lyme ab screen mildly elevevated but western blot all non reactive. now im testing pos for igm 23 and igm 41. what does this mean?

A member asked:

Do i have lyme dx? tested negative for igm and positive for igg. western blot serum-1 not indicated, iggcdc neg, igmcdc, neg, igmalt, neg, iggalt pos igg: 66, 39, 31, 23 igm: no bands present. being treated for exposure to lyme dx?

A member asked:

Lyme antibody positive and western blot negative. where can i find a complete list of other id's associated with a positive igm/igm antibody screen?!

A member asked:

My dr. did western blot for lyme. both igm and igg came back positive. have enough bands to diagnose according to the cdc. no elisa. is it ok?

A member asked:

I have a "present abnormal" western blot serum test for p41, both igg and igm. also, low wbc (3.0). does this indicate an active infection?

A member asked:

Is "lyme ab panel w.blot" the same test as "lyme ab igg & igm"?

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